21 Feb Call for Support: Increase Access to Breast Cancer Treatments

Susan G. Komen® San Diego is sponsoring the following state bills to ensure San Diegans have access to the potentially life-saving treatments they need when facing breast cancer.

SB 945 (Atkins) Breast and Cervical Care Cancer Treatment Program

Current law caps breast and cervical cancer treatment at 18 months and 24 months, respectively, for the State funded Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP). The Komen California Affiliates are sponsoring this bill with author Senator Toni Atkins to remove this cap and allow breast cancer patients to complete their prescribed treatment plans with this coverage. Assemblymember Christina Garcia, Assemblymember Autumn Burke, Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, Senator Dr. Richard Pan and Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula have already signed on as co-authors.

UPDATE: On Wednesday, April 25th this bill passed the Senate Health Committee with overwhelming support. Thank you Senator Toni Atkins for your leadership in ensuring breast cancer patients are able to complete their treatment in full. Next stop is budget proposals.

AB 1860 (Limon)

This bill caps out-of-pocket costs for oral anti-cancer drugs (oral chemotherapy) at $200. Previous legislation worked on by the Komen California Collaborative Public Policy Committee that provided this cap sunsets in 2019. AB 1860 does not have an end date and would effectively hold this cap in perpetuity. Prior to this bill, intravenous (IV) administered chemotherapy was covered by insurances at a more favorable rate than oral (pill form) chemotherapy, which made it difficult for breast cancer patients to access their oral chemotherapy prescriptions.

UPDATE: This bill has passed out of the Assembly Health Committee with overwhelming support. Next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee If you want to help, contact Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher’s office and ask her to support this bill. Click here: https://goo.gl/NaN2cT

Please call your California Senators and San Diego Assemblymembers to stand up with us for access to breast cancer treatment by co-sponsoring and supporting these bills today!

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